1. No Logging Policy

They’re saying up front that they have a strict no logging policy. They’re also adding a few other factoids to differentiate them from Hola VPN, a proxy browser add-on that logs all of your information, has no servers, and routes users through one another’s devices.

That’s because OpenVPN is a labor of ever-evolving love from the entire security community. It is open sourced, meaning no one single company is maintaining it. Rather, the security community maintains it as a whole, adding to it and making it stronger as technology advances.

The one drawback to OpenVPN is that some slower systems and iOS have a hard time with it. That’s probably why DotVPN is using IPSec for their iOS app.

IPSec is an encryption protocol usually paired with either L2TP or IKEv2 protocols.

A US-based VPN could have all of the right answers. It could be leak free, log free, lightning fast, with outstanding customer service. But it will always fall to the wayside against a VPN that doesn’t answer to the 14 Eyes alliance.

The other big offender is WebRTC leaks. WebRTC is a system developed for web browsers that helps them to create more effective real-time communication apps. The problem with WebRTC is that the APIs which allow it to fulfill its purpose also play havoc with a VPN’s security.

Leaks are serious business. That’s why we test all of our VPNs six different times to make sure everything is functioning properly.

We put DotVPN through our string of tests, and it did not fare well.

At the start it was promising, we detected no IP or DNS leaks.

However, when we tested for WebRTC leaks, we found out that DotVPN was leaking our original IP address from Estonia:

https://ipleak.net/ – Passed

https://www.perfect-privacy.com/check-ip – Passed

https://ipx.ac/run – Passed

https://browserleaks.com/webrtc – Failed

https://www.perfect-privacy.com/dns-leaktest/ – Passed

https://dnsleak.com – Passed

The presence of a WebRTC leak undermines DotVPN’s entire system. Leaks make their no logging policy pointless and their encryption meaningless.

3. No Servers Worked With Netflix

Despite this hard line in the sand, there are many VPNs who have managed to squeak through Netflix’s ban.

DotVPN is not one of them.

We tested five of Dot’s servers with Netflix and none of them worked.

4. No Torrenting Allowed

Torrenting is a service coveted by VPN users. While the ability to connect through a peer-to-peer network can be beneficial for downloading large files at fast speeds, it also opens you up to a multitude of threats.

Having a VPN to shield your personal information from hackers hoping to exploit this backdoor into your system is extremely beneficial and solves the most glaring issue with the torrenting process.

DotVPN, however, does not allow torrenting of any kind on any of its servers.

This is disappointing, but it’s good that they’re not ruling it out for the future. I’ve seen some VPNs take this grand moral stance against torrenting, but Dot has more of a “we don’t have it now, but hopefully soon” mentality about the whole thing.

5. Limited Device Support

As a browsing add-on, DotVPN supports Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. It is also usable on both iOS and Android platforms.

There have been promises of a desktop app, which would be a full VPN. However, they don’t seem to be committing to a time frame.

Seeing as how I’m writing this on June 12, 2018, their promise of mid-2017 has come and gone.

2019 Update: At the time of updating this in February 2019, DotVPN is still yet to release a desktop app. They have once again shifted the release date to “mid-2019.” As it is, it doesn’t seem as if DotVPN has any plan to ever release a desktop app.

They also don’t support routers. Which means you won’t be able to encrypt smart TVs or gaming consoles, either.

Your options are extremely limited.

6. No Kill Switch

As stated above, we found IP leaks. That’s cause for major alarm.

The only thing that ever eases my leak concern is the presence of a kill switch.

A kill switch is a built-in security measure, sort of like the ejector seat on a fighter jet. If your connection becomes unstable and you’re leaking your IP, the kill switch abruptly ends your session before any damage can occur.

The presence of a kill switch might have restored some of my faith in DotVPN’s security.

Unfortunately, they don’t have one.

7. Contact Form Support, No Response

Dot has a customer service form that you can fill out, located under the help tab on their menu.

Once you click on Send Us Your Feedback it will take you to the form.

It’s a pretty straightforward contact form. I filled out my information and asked about their encryption and VPN protocols.

Three days and counting… and I have heard nothing back. I even sent them a follow-up, noting that it was my second attempt to reach out, and still I’ve heard nothing.

Customer support is important when dealing with a tech product and this was a big strikeout.

8. Absolutely Decimates Internet Speed

While any VPN will slow your speed down, this was a dumpster fire.

A lot of people see speed loss as the cost of internet security. But the fastest VPNs we’ve reviewed see only a slight dip in performance levels.

Nothing like this.

Normally we test all of our VPNs in the same way. We look at a server in the EU and one in the US. We always use speedtest.net to do this, so our speed screenshots usually look the same.

But when I tried to do that with DotVPN, it wasn’t working.

I tried on multiple servers and I was met with the same issue over and over. I disconnected from the service and tried again. It worked fine, so it was clearly the VPN.

I ended up having to use Google’s speed test tool, so these results will look a bit different from our normal testing.

The EU speed test came out of Paris, and it was pretty abysmal. Speeds plummeted all around.

EU Speed Test

Ping: 57 ms

Download: 3.32 Mbps (90% Slower Than 30 Mbps Benchmark)

Upload: 1.85 Mbps (85.7% Slower Than 13 Mbps Benchmark)

As bad as this was, the US speed test was even worse.

US Speed Test

Ping: 22 ms

Download: 1.58 Mbps (94.7% Slower Than 30 Mbps Benchmark)

Upload: 1.87 Mbps (85.6% Slower Than 13 Mbps Benchmark)

DotVPN Costs, Plans, & Payment Options

DotVPN has two plans. A free option and a premium service.

The free service is super limited but, you do get what you pay for.

The premium has a number of different options as far as commitment goes. A month to month plan will run you $4.99 per month.

PayPal, credit cards, local payment systems, or cryptocurrencies are accepted. I always love when a VPN allows crypto payments. It’s like an additional layer of security on top of their service.

If you cancel within 30 days you can receive a full refund. Anything after that can still be refunded, but it will be prorated.

Do I Recommend DotVPN?

No, I do not.

From the butchering of my speed levels to a lack of decent security on the browser level, I can’t in good conscience recommend this VPN.

Speaking of the speed, it’s a little suspicious how our regular speed test program didn’t work while connected to DotVPN. On the VPN dashboard they give you your speed and when I was able to find a speed test that worked, I saw that they were grossly inflating it. I can’t prove that they were purposely trying to mislead me, but it’s definitely on my mind.

Don’t get me wrong, I find their logging policies commendable, but the WebRTC leak completely undo it. And with no kill switch, I have no faith in its ability to protect me.

I also need more than just mobile apps and browser proxies. They’re already a year late on their promise of a desktop app, so I’m not holding my breath.

Customer support completely blew off my questions, and while the price is good, there are infinitely better systems out there for the same or less money.

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